Thomas, already in his mid-50s, was bringing his whole family along to settle an area only recently put at peace with the Indians. He and his oldest son John Parker Darnall, were some of the very first people to move into this part of Illinois. They first put down at the head of Big Creek in Sims/Symmes Township near the site of the present community of Grandview, southwest of Paris, Illinois.

See Land in Edgar County (next page).

Michael O'Hair's Recollections of the Earliest Days

"In October, 1825, I started for Illinois. All of my good were soon made ready for the long journey. I was the owner of four common horses. Two of them were rigged with pack-saddles and upon them I loaded all my worldly goods. The other two were used to pack myself, wife and two children.

Thus equipped, we started for the 'Far West,' and on the 28th day of October, 1825, I landed on what is now my farm, five miles south of Paris, on Big Creek. On the place there were about three acres of cleared land; the balance of the region roundabout was heavy timber. I immediately examined my finances, and found I had a fraction over one hundred dollars in silver, which I used in entering the first 'eighty' I ever owned. I at once proceeded with my own hands to clear up my land for cultivation. I hardly ever hired my work done, for hands were scarce, and I had no means to pay them. There was a small cabin on the three acres that were cleared, that I occupied as my residence for sixteen years.

On my arrival in my new home in this country, I found the following persons, who had preceded me a year or two to Big Creek: Thomas Rhoades, Jacob Rhoades, John House, William Janes, Elijah Elledge, Samuel Handley, Thomas O'Hair (a half-brother), Fred, Uncell, Aaron Darnall and brother who were then 'batching' it, and Mike, John and Daniel Ripple. These were the families that constituted the first settlement on Big Creek. The above named are all dead except Aaron Darnall, who is now living near Bloomfield, in this country." --History of Edgar County 1879

The Natives

"Quite a number of Indians were living in their peculiarly-constructed wigwams, in the timber along the banks of Big Creek. Their wigwams were made of a few poles, placed with the lower ends in a circle on the ground and their upper ends meeting at the top. Over this skeleton, skins of animals were stretched and bark of tress was laid. Dirt was thrown up against the sides a few feet in height, thus making a tight wall. The top of the wigwam was left open, for the escape of smoke. The fire for warming purposes was made in the center of the wigwam, the 'big Injins.' squaws and papooses sitting or lying around it on all sides.

The cooking , except in the coldest weather, was done inside, when the fire in the wigwam was dispensed with. The huts or cabins of the white people were but a trifle better than the habitations of their red neighbors. They consisted of a single room, built of small round logs laid up in the manner of building a rail pen, the cracks between the logs being daubed with mortar. The roof was constructed of what were called clapboards, or large shingles, split from the bodies of straight-grained trees, and theses were held in their places by the weight of poles laid theron."--History of Edgar County 1879

The Mormon Excitement

"In after years, when the Mormon Excitant came over this part of the State, it carried Mr. [Thomas] Rhoades away in its doctrine. He went with them in their journey West, it is stated, and from Utah to California where he became quite wealthy. He was not alone, by any means, in his infatuation for this peculiar sect, as Edgar County furnished several adherents to the church of the "Latter-day Saints. Almost contemporary with them were William Janes, Moses Williams, Aaron, Moses W., and John Darnall, Samuel Wells and William Craig."--History of Edgar County 1879